'The Bet' is an 1889 short story by Anton Chekhov. In the story, a banker is described as being very...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
'The Bet' is an 1889 short story by Anton Chekhov. In the story, a banker is described as being very upset about something: ________
Which quotation from 'The Bet' most effectively illustrates the claim?
'Then the banker cautiously broke the seals off the door and put the key in the keyhole.'
'It struck three o'clock, the banker listened; everyone was asleep in the house and nothing could be heard outside but the rustling of the chilled trees.'
'The banker, spoilt and frivolous, with millions beyond his reckoning, was delighted at the bet.'
'When [the banker] got home he lay on his bed, but his tears and emotion kept him for hours from sleeping.'
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| 'The Bet' is an 1889 short story by Anton Chekhov. |
|
| In the story, a banker is described as being very upset about something |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: We need to find textual evidence that shows the banker from 'The Bet' being very upset.
Argument Flow: This is a simple setup that identifies the story and presents a claim about the banker's emotional state that requires supporting evidence.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct quotation must directly show the banker experiencing upset emotions
- We need evidence of distress, sadness, anger, or other negative emotional states
- The best evidence would explicitly describe the banker's emotional reaction through direct description of upset feelings, physical manifestations of being upset (crying, unable to sleep, etc.), or emotional language that clearly indicates distress
'Then the banker cautiously broke the seals off the door and put the key in the keyhole.'
✗ Incorrect
- Shows the banker performing a careful, deliberate action with seals and a key
- This describes cautious behavior, not emotional upset
- Actions alone don't demonstrate emotional state
'It struck three o'clock, the banker listened; everyone was asleep in the house and nothing could be heard outside but the rustling of the chilled trees.'
✗ Incorrect
- Provides atmospheric details about time and setting (3 o'clock, sleeping house, rustling trees)
- This is scene-setting, not evidence of the banker's emotional condition
- Contains no information about the banker's feelings
'The banker, spoilt and frivolous, with millions beyond his reckoning, was delighted at the bet.'
✗ Incorrect
- Explicitly states the banker 'was delighted at the bet'
- 'Delighted' is the opposite of upset—this directly contradicts the claim
'When [the banker] got home he lay on his bed, but his tears and emotion kept him for hours from sleeping.'
✓ Correct
- Explicitly mentions 'his tears and emotion kept him for hours from sleeping'
- 'Tears' directly indicates crying, which clearly shows upset
- 'Emotion' that prevents sleep suggests intense distress
- Perfectly matches our prethinking about physical manifestations of being upset